Respiratory Protective Device

Abstract

A respiratory protective device may include a mask. The mask may include a first portion configured to at least partially cover a nose of a user when the respiratory protective device is worn. The mask may also include a second portion configured to at least partially cover a mouth of a user when the respiratory protective device is worn. The respiratory protective device may also include a divider associated with one or more of the first portion and the second portion. The divider may be configured to be generally positioned between the nose and the mouth of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A respiratory protective device comprising:
 a mask including a first portion configured to at least partially cover a nose of a user when the respiratory protective device is worn, and a second portion configured to at least partially cover a mouth of a user when the respiratory protective device is worn; and   a divider associated with one or more of the first portion and the second portion, wherein the divider is configured to be generally positioned between the nose and the mouth of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The respiratory protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are at least partially joined to one another 
     
     
         3 . The respiratory protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the first portion of the mask is at least partially separated from at least part of the second portion of the mask. 
     
     
         4 . The respiratory protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the mask and the at least second portion of the mask are configured to be at least partially folded away from each other. 
     
     
         5 . The respiratory protective device according to  claim 1  further comprising a seal generally corresponding to the divider between the first portion of the mask and the at least second portion of the mask. 
     
     
         6 . The respiratory protective device according to  claim 1  further comprising a retention system extending from one or more of the first portion and the second portion of the mask. 
     
     
         7 . The respiratory protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein the mask includes a filtering material, the filtering material associated with one or more of the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         8 . The respiratory protective device according to  claim 7 , wherein the first portion of the mask is lined with the filtering material having a substantially equivalent configuration as the first portion of the mask. 
     
     
         9 . The respiratory protective device according to  claim 7 , wherein the second portion of the mask is lined with the filtering material having a substantially equivalent configuration as the second portion of the mask. 
     
     
         10 . The respiratory protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein the divider includes a malleable feature one or more of disposed between the first portion and the second portion, and associated with one or more of the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         11 . The respiratory protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the mask includes a pinched base configured to be positioned below the nose of the user when worn. 
     
     
         12 . The respiratory protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the mask is configured to at least partially conform around a chin of the user. 
     
     
         13 . A respiratory protective device comprising:
 a first portion configured to at least partially cover a nose of a user; and   a second portion configured to at least partially cover a mouth of the user;   wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to provide a first volume around the nose and a second volume around the mouth, the first volume being at least partially separated from the second volume.   
     
     
         14 . The respiratory protective device according to  claim 13 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are at least partially separated by a divider, the divider configured to be disposed between the nose and the mouth of the user. 
     
     
         15 . The respiratory protective device according to  claim 13 , wherein the first portion and the second portion include a separation configured to be positioned generally between the nose and the mouth. 
     
     
         16 . The respiratory device according to  claim 15 , wherein the separation includes one or more of a lower edge of the first portion and an upper edge of the second portion. 
     
     
         17 . The respiratory device according to  claim 16 , wherein the first portion and the second portion include at least partially separate components. 
     
     
         18 . The respiratory device according to  claim 17 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are at least partially coupled to one another at generally opposed lateral aspects. 
     
     
         19 . The respiratory device according to  claim 13 , further including a seal associated with one or more of the first portion and the second portion, the seal configured to engage a region between the nose and the mouth and at least partially impede air exchange between the first volume and the second volume. 
     
     
         20 . A method for preventing the spread of infectious disease via a respiratory protective device, the method comprising:
 providing a respiratory protective device comprising a first portion and a second portion;   fitting the respiratory protective device to a user with the first portion generally overlying a nose of the user and the second portion generally overlying the mouth of the user;
 wherein the first portion generally defines a first volume associated with the nose and the second portion generally defines a second volume associated with the mouth of the user, the first volume being at least partially separated from the second volume to reduce air exchange between the first volume and the second volume.